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Marine Based Scientific Research: This is a low impact study using a vessel of opportunity. The research group is made up a graduate student Nicole Trenholm, an American Polar Explorer Matt Rutherford and two Canadian pleasure yacht adventurers on the Sailing Vessel Toboggan. The study will occur during the voyage from July 28 to August 26, 2018. The graduate student heads back to University Maryland Baltimore County Geographic Environmental System Program departing at Gjoa Haven, while the rest of the team continues on through the passage. The work involves a 4 day stop at Croker Bay in a 40 foot sailing boat for oceanographic surveys. Alternative fly out locations includes Pond Inlet and Resolute. Location: Qikiqtani Region [Croker Bay and Northwest Passage Transit]In Croker Bay, the graduate student will assess the ocean warming factor in glacial mass ice loss of the Devon Ice Cap. She is collaborating with Dr. Clark Richards at DFO and Dr. Andrew Hamilton of University of Ottawa on the greater contribution of their research assessing Canadian ocean circulation and Devon Ice Cap Cryospheric conditions.Nicole, intends to test additional sea and ice surface observation collection methods to improve satellite models of sea ice concentration of the National Weather Service. This will occur only with appropriate conditions. If her observations are greatly beneficial to improve National Weather Service models then she will apply for permits and contact NIRB and NPC to request local volunteer observations from Nunavut communities as well as her own additional observations on future cruises.She does not have a community outreach component associated with this earlier project phase in 2018 but is open to Nunuvut school and public collaborators in contacting her to consider educational outreach partnerships going forward. nicolet3@umbc.eduThis project is sponsored by the Ocean Research Project 501c3 and the team of the vessel of opportunity, SV Toboggan.